The LORD had sent his messengers and prophets to warn Israel and Judah: "Abandon your evil ways and obey my commands, which are contained in the Law I gave to your ancestors and which I handed on to you through my servants the prophets."

But they would not obey; they were stubborn like their ancestors, who had not trusted in the LORD their God.

They broke all the laws of the LORD their God and made two metal bull-calves to worship; they also made an image of the goddess Asherah, worshiped the stars, and served the god Baal.

The LORD was angry with the Israelites and banished them from his sight, leaving only the kingdom of Judah.

The LORD rejected all the Israelites, punishing them and handing them over to cruel enemies until at last he had banished them from his sight.

They followed Jeroboam and continued to practice all the sins he had committed,

The LORD, the God of their ancestors, had continued to send prophets to warn his people, because he wanted to spare them and the Temple.

But they made fun of God's messengers, ignoring his words and laughing at his prophets, until at last the LORD's anger against his people was so great that there was no escape.

You warned them to obey your teachings, but in pride they rejected your laws, although keeping your Law is the way to life. Hard-headed and stubborn, they refused to obey.

Year after year you patiently warned them. You inspired your prophets to speak, but your people were deaf, so you let them be conquered by other nations.

"For twenty-three years, from the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah until this very day, the LORD has spoken to me, and I have never failed to tell you what he said. But you have paid no attention.

They told you to turn from your wicked way of life and from the evil things you are doing, so that you could go on living in the land that the LORD gave you and your ancestors as a permanent possession.

But the LORD himself says that you refused to listen to him. Instead, you made him angry with your idols and have brought his punishment on yourselves.

I have continued to send you all my servants the prophets, and they have told you to give up your evil ways and to do what is right. They warned you not to worship and serve other gods, so that you could go on living in the land that I gave you and your ancestors. But you would not listen to me or pay any attention to me.

but now I say to you, 'Return to me, and I will return to you.

Your ancestors and those prophets are no longer alive.

"Long ago I gave these commands to my people: 'You must see that justice is done, and must show kindness and mercy to one another.

"But my people stubbornly refused to listen. They closed their minds

Because they did not listen when I spoke, I did not answer when they prayed.

When the time came to gather the grapes, he sent a slave to the tenants to receive from them his share of the harvest.

Then the owner sent another slave; the tenants beat him over the head and treated him shamefully.

When the time came to gather the grapes, he sent a slave to the tenants to receive from them his share of the harvest. But the tenants beat the slave and sent him back without a thing.

Then he sent a third slave; the tenants wounded him, too, and threw him out.

But when the tenants saw him, they said to one another, 'This is the owner's son. Let's kill him, and his property will be ours!'

"He will come and kill those men, and turn the vineyard over to other tenants." When the people heard this, they said, "Surely not!"

Everyone who falls on that stone will be cut to pieces; and if that stone falls on someone, that person will be crushed to dust."

Solomon has a vineyard in a place called Baal Hamon. There are farmers who rent it from him; each one pays a thousand silver coins.

Solomon is welcome to his thousand coins, and the farmers to two hundred as their share; I have a vineyard of my own!

Is there anything I failed to do for it? Then why did it produce sour grapes and not the good grapes I expected?